Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-04-04

policies. feared his nomination and opposed
his election, but every honorable democrat
recognized him as the able and adequate
exponent of his oparty. Whether the
party were right or wrong. he htly
represented the party. Born and reared like
yourself from generations Of refinement and
culture, long q prominent and familiar figure
in State and national legislation, where his
opinions were always sought and always fully
and boldly set forth, skilled in administra'
ton, on terms of intimacy with the public
men of both parties, known on the hustings
probably to a larger voting population than
any other man in this country, and supported
always by the popular vote, logical thinker,
an eloquent speaker, an elegant writer
perhaps no ma ever more amply gathered
within himself alike the purposes and the
aspirations of his party than did the candi-
date against whom you were careful to say
nothing. so long as il was possible that he
might have 1t in his power to continue or re-
move the minister at st. James, but whom,
after his defeat, ysu hastened Ostentatiously
to abandon.
And you, of the faction that cleaved of
from its party on the question of fitness for
office you. man of learning, a citizen who
had taken large part in discussing the most
important, the highest moral politics Of your
country; you, who had shared her hOnors and
emoluments.-you regretted that you had not
been able to assist in elevatiEg to the highest
position in the country a man, not simply
without learning. but ignorant Of the ordinary
political history Of the nation he was set to
govern; man who, as have previously taken
occasion to say, had passed through exciting
years that heralded our civil war, had passed
through the eventful years succeeding the
civil war, without uttering one word that
could be recalled to indicate preference for
either of the contending forces, knowledge
that there was any war in progress, or any
opinion whatever in the equally mOmentOus
conflict of opposing theories after the rees-
Enlistment of peace. You thought it wise
and lofty thing an intellectual feat and moral
victory, to put at the head Of this great cOun-
tr,, this vast noble, and advancing nation,
man who had never uttered q word for his
country. nor ever lifted his hand in her de
fence higher than the hangman's rope. You
FASTENED to transfer your allegiance to man
of brutal manners. of stolid instincts, of
vulgar associations; a man who was a
stranger to polite society, unacquainted with
public men. ignorant of human nature,
ignorant of politics as of letters-
a man whose elevation to the Presidency
of Harvard would have amazed and dis
Rusted every alumnus in the country, would
have offended and alienated every professor
and tutor in the University; man whom
brilliant member of his own political party
lee ares to be 6, wooden image, of dull self
efficiency and cold stDliditv, as incapable of
impressions rs of returning warmth,
sensible of criticism only to the point of re-
,.nting it
In all this have not one word of blame for
The Pr-sid mt of your choice though not of
your choosing; he did not make himself Pres
drnr; he but accepted what no man ever re.
fused As President, he has fulfilled every
reasonable anticipation; he has executed the
iuirs of his high Office precisely as was to be
expected of an executiOner